A provision in our Criminal Code allows Police the ability to wiretap a person(s) without their knowledge, or without having to inform them of the tap, once the investigation is completed. However, the provision is for ‘emergency use’ where lives are believed to be in ‘immediate danger’.

CBC News has learned that McMynn’s case is just one of at least 267 cases between 2000 and 2008 where major police forces across the country used warrant-less wiretaps. ( CBC News )

Personally, I happen to agree with the need of an emergency provision, so that Police can act in order to save a life, or lives. However, there still needs to be some form of accountability, to insure that the provision is being properly used, and not for other purposes.

Certainly we want to act, when speed is essential in protecting lives. However, what about property or inconvenience? Should that also be included as just cause to by pass the legal system?

I don’t think so.

And yet, that is what is at the heart of this matter. How can we, the people, or those in charge of the Police, even know if such instances are proper or not, if there is no record keeping, no passing along of information? While it is nice to think that every law enforcement officer is honest, true, and dedicated, free of personal bias, the simple truth is, they are human, just like everyone else. They have prejudices, they have bias leanings, and yes, they too act out of anger, out of irrational fear at times, so they do need to be held accountable.

It is that accountability that makes our society different from a Dictatorship, or Tyranical Ruler. We are at War, with those forces that would like to see our society crumble, but you know, the greatest threat is coming from within, not from them. It is our fear that is driving us to ignore the very principles that set us apart, and when you blur the lines that much, you give the enemy exactly what they seek.

The end of our society.

Laws exist for the protection of everyone in our society, not just a select few who are born of the right religion, have the right skin color, and have the right view or opinion. Laws are for those who disagree, who are willing to accept that others may have a point, or that they are at least allowed to voice them, openly & free from retribution.

Those are the principles that founded this country, that are its backbone for being.

Emergency Powers are needed, but we still need to have procedures, to maybe detail better how and when such powers can be used, and also, to insure that each time they are used, there is proper documentation, & records. Not so we can just punish abusers of the system, but in an effort to refine and make the rules perform better.

Without the data, you can’t say how many lives were saved, or not. You can’t determine what methods worked or didn’t, in saving lives, if you don’t know how Police got to that point.  This is about Democracy, about being held accountable, yet it seems, we try to duck that, by using sensationalism stories to illustrate a point, either for or against.

Instead of promising accountability, as Stephen Harper does, let us, for a change, actually BE ACCOUNTABLE.

The released result of the investigation into the Listeriosis Outbreak from Maple Leaf Foods has been released, and naturally there is no condemnation or even suggestion, that the Harper move to Industry Self Regulation is at fault, or really, has anything to do with the outbreak.  Like what did we expect, the truth?

The report doesn’t make findings of criminal or civil liability, but it says the federal government should review the training of its inspectors and look at inspection resources. ( CBC News )

Truth of the matter is that yes, new equipment that is easier to clean is a big plus, but let’s face it, that’s also a huge expense, that won’t be implemented anytime soon. After all, we are in a recession, and there is only so much bailout money available for the corporate sponsors of the Harper Government. And it ducks the issue. Even if a piece of machinery is difficult to clean, properly trained employees would allow for those machines to be fully sanitized. 

Placing the blame on the equipment is just passing the buck, and ducking one’s own responsibility. A typical Harper solution.

Then too, the requirement for more inspections and inspectors, is good news, but they must have the authority to SHUT A PLACE DOWN. As it stands now, the inspectors are denied any authority, and let’s be honest, when our joking agriculture minister tells us that ‘best before dates’ are only advisories, do we truly expect him to give real power to the inspectors?

Bottom line is that the Government needs to stop pushing the responsibility onto the Private Sector. It is CIFA who should be conducting routine & regular testing IN EVERY SINGLE FOOD PROCESSING LOCATION, NOT RELY ON INDUSTRY STOOGES TO DO IT.

Strange isn’t it?

The Publisher & Editor of the newspaper that wrongly reported that Stevie Boy pocketed a communion wafer, at Romeo LeBlanc’s funeral, are now history, toast, for their inaccurate reporting.

The publisher and editor of the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal are no longer with the paper after it was forced to apologize to Stephen Harper and two of its own reporters over a story about whether the prime minister took communion at the state funeral of former governor general Roméo LeBlanc. ( CBC News )

Frankly, I think that the bosses should be held accountable, and their firings or removals, make sense, but to a point. Seems to me there is a double standard at work here, because gee, didn’t Stephen Harper originally blame Michael Ignatieff for making those comments, and had to apologize for it?

Then how about him stealing John Howard’s speech, and using it as his own. Again he had to sort of apologize, but it didn’t cost him his job either.

And how about his campaign speeches just last October, when he said our economy would not enter a recession, that spending deficits would not happen, and well, the deficit is now up to FIFTY BILLION DOLLARS!

Should they have been axed, I don’t know, but I tend to think so. Should Stephen Harper suffer the same fate, and be turfed form office for his smears, his lies?

ABSOLUTELY!

The Federal Deficit is expected to top the now projected FIFTY SIX BILLION DOLLARS, and I have to wonder, WHERE DID THE MONEY GO?  Seems the Parliamentary Budget Watchdog is also wondering just that, in the release of his report, last friday.

According to this report, some TWELVE BILLION has been spent, but unfortunately, they can’t exactly tell us where it has gone. Now, maybe I am being picky, but I kind of like to know just where my taxdollars are going, don’t you?

Yet the Harper Government, seems reluctant to provide US, the people, that information. They won’t provide it to Parliament, and yet where is Mr. Layton, Mr Ignatieff, on this? I mean come on, while the Tories pile up support, for their warm & fuzzy ads, about staying the course (by the way, know who made that statement famous? Why George W. Bush of course, a hero of our Prime Minister, until he left office.), our money is being spent, without any checks or balances.

Yet, isn’t that exactly what Mr. Harper said HE WOULD NEVER DO?

Guess, that is just ONE MORE LIE to add to his growing list of whoppers, that he has spoon fed us, the taxpayers, the voters. Seems to me, we need to hold these buffoons accountable, at all costs.

The argument, of changing horse in mid stream, may be valid, if we knew we were in mid stream, if we knew we were coming out of this recession, but when the figures are being held back, one has to wonder, WHY.  And then too, are they being held back, for use during an election, so as to insure re-election? IF that is the kind of game Mr. Harper is playing, then that alone demands he be replaced as Prime Minister.

SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT THIS IS OUR MONEY, WE DESERVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT IS GOING.

How are we, the VOTER, supposed to judge the Government, on its ability to protect us, our economy, IF THEY DON’T TELL US WHERE THEY ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY? How can we effectively make a decision, if there is no way of knowing if the plans & policy of this SECRETIVE ADMINISTRATION, ARE WORKING?

You have to love the Conservative Party, being run by Stephen Harper. I mean what other political party, in power, would add their logo and party name to a Government Funded Cheque?

While I can see that a desperate Government, trying to make sure people ignore the reality of their failed policies, is convinced otherwise, the idea of adding one’s logo to a cheque, seems to be dirty pool.  Yet, the Good Old Boys, didn’t think it was bad, until the angry responses began to come in, and suddenly their ‘it is harmless’ became an apology and ‘i wouldn’t do it again’ mantra.

WHY DID THEY DO IN THE FIRST PLACE?

This is what gets me about today’s political leaders. If it is believed to be the right thing to do, then why backpedal when called on it? Either have the Courage of your Convictions, or get the hell out of politics. Your job, as a political representative, is to serve us, not the Corporate Interests. So if YOU BELIEVE in something, then stand up for it. 

No one is perfect, we all make mistakes, but really, to try such underhanded politicking, just seems to be ‘oh so typical’ of the Harper Conservatives.

If you think you deserve credit, a covering letter from the local MP should be sufficient, but to alter a government cheque?  TO ME THAT IS FRAUD!